Insulated rail-joint.



VIE. F. SCHERMERHRN.

n lNsuLATEn BML JOINT, APPLICATION `FILED JA'N. 25, 1915.

y A Patented June 1s, 1915.

y 2 SHEETS-SHEET llian/4R05 Esa/ffR/ffffffrofw f TQ all lwhom it mayconcern' Jomr CoMrANr-or NEW Yoan, NpY., A conronafrron'or NEW YORK.

, i "INsuLAjrnn RAIL-JOINT.

Be it known that L'EDWARDS sidingr at Brooklyn, inthe county'ofKings andState of New Yorlnhaye invented cer` tain new. and useful Improvementsin Insulated Rail-Joints, of which the followin1g2 is a specification.

`This invention relates to insulated lrail joints, and particularly toan improvement j therein Which provides .means for thoroughlyinsulatingthejoint Without employthe head of one rail, and shall havev an air-I.-

gapinsulation from the head of the other f rail, thereby entirelyavoiding,r theuse of in'- sulating material at the places most subjectto Wear, and consequently materially ma creasing the life `ofthe jointas an insulator.

i It is proposed to embody these novel features-in a form ofconstruction admitting of the use of conventional joint bars of uniformsection throughout, thusmalzing the production of such bars the .usualrollingr,.

mill proposition. f

A further object of the invention is `to utilizethe uniform joint barsin combination with a distribution ofinsulating material alongfthe baselliangre portions of both rails so as lto provide uniformity offlexibility throughout the joint, as Well as maintaining a-completeinsulation for the entire `base Viange portion of the joint.

In carrying forward these objects, the essential features of the`invention may be-` embodied in different forms of construcf.A

tion and applied to various kinds ofjoints without departing from thescope thereof,

but a specific form o f construction best eX- emphfying the inventionisshownin the accompanying drawings, in Whichm 1 yFigure 1 isa sideelevation of an insulated rail joint constructed'in accordance-With theinvention'. Fig. 2A isaside elevation thereof withI the joint barremoved .to expose the 'i Specification of Letters Patent. Applicationfiled January 25,1915. Se ra1,No.4=,2-l8.Y

F. SCHER# l MnR'HonN, a citizen of the United States, re

'joint bolts' 4.

vpreferable form of 'insulation'v employed".

Figi.` fis a vertical cross 'sectional view of,

the join; on the 1in@ 3 3 of Fig. 1, that is,

through Ythe completely insulated end of- .the joint., Fig. `4 isasimilar View through the receivingaailY endl of' the joint .on the`line 4 -tof Fig. 1. i

- Uli-WED STATES PATENTOFHC# y nnwnnns 1*. scHnaMEnHoRN, orA rnooiznrrr,NEW YonmAssIGNoR To THE RAIL PatentedJnne'S, 1915;y j4

'Similar reference Ycharacters designate ieyures4 of the drawings.,

corresponding' parts throughout' the several may ybe employed tomaintain the air-gap insulationfor one portion of the head-ofa joint barand an electrical con'tact'or come munication between the remainingportion of the head of said bar andfone rail, but

the jointconstruetion selected for illustraltion Will 'clearly exemplifythe features `of novelty claimed. Referring to this 'illustrated'embodimenty of the inyention,the

railjoint shown includes the separaterails l Vand i., which arerespectiyely the leaving.' rail and the receiving rail, a pair of oppo``,Y

sitely arranged joint bars 3, and the usual Each joint barmayvqbeivformed `in anyN suitable" manner; preferably `by the usualrolling,r operations, but according to the present invention 'thebarisof vuniforxfn section and height throughout, that is,

tural and dimensional characteristics of the bar `are uniformlypreserved from end to f end thereof.v However, in order to 4fullil .thei requirementsof the invention, incoxnloina`-V tion with theotherrelatedv parts, the distinctive feature of .improvement inItheconstruction of the bar' resides in forming the e struc?"- so i samevWith `an upright 'member 5 so made f l that the head portion 6j thereof,at 7, is

spaced a. sufficient' distance from the under.

sides yof the rail-heads to form an insulat'-,

ing air rapto take. theplace of the usualy rail' head insulating membercommonly used.

Accordingly, inthe specific formand ap-- plication `of theinventionshown, by ,reason of the spacing: of the top edges Tot thejoint' upon the rails.

plainly sh'own in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings, said fzir-gapeli'ectually preventing electrical communication between the top edge ofthe upright member 5 and the head of the leaving rail.

A To compensate for thefspace which prorides the air-gapinsulation forone portion of thc head of the joint bar, a metal angle lillerplate 9lis interposed `between the re. maining portion of the bar and one railofy The insulation of the joint described may be accomplished in athorough manner by confining the insulating material to one of the railends. A preferable and practical way of doing this resides inemployingside insulation plates l0 interposed between the web of the -leavingrail and: the upright members 5 of the joint bars. 'Each side insulation-plate'l() is vpreferably continued at its upper edge to apointiat or slightly above the top edges 7 'of the joint bars, as shownin the drawings, and it will be here observed that each of the jointbars is providedfalong the inner side of its head'portion 6 with aninwardly projecting inside abutment rib 11 adapted to Contact with theadjacent edge portionsv of the insi'llation plate 10.1, This provides aclamping or holding means for 4 the side insulation at this point, andalso provides a bracing or holding point for the upper edges ofthe'upright members 5, -so that the latter may be. clamped tightly' inplace and the joint bolts' 'kept tight. ln

connection with Vthis feature of the. invention, it will be observedthat the metal filler plates 9 may be somewhat thinner than theinsulation plates 10, so as to providea clearance space 12 between theinner side'of the head ,6 of the bar and the skirt' of the filler plateor from the web. othe rail. 'This clearance for the inner side of thehead portion of the bar which is-in electrical contact with one of therail heads is for the purpose of permitting 4of the usual adjustments ofthe bary to maintain the tightfit thereof ln'theinsulaticn shown, theside insulation plates 10 are provided with base insulation plates 13 in"the form `ofjcufls Aor4 sleeves embracing the rail base flanges. Thesebase insulation plates 13 are preferably coextensive with the length ofthe joint so that they will not only cover and insulate the flanges ofthe leaving rail, but will also-cover the flanges of the receiving'rail.

This form of construction safeguards the insulation of the .jointthroughout at the base and at the same time performs the desirablemechanical function of cushioning extensions (13?) wliich relieve 4therigidity and stiffness of thejinon-insulated metal-tometal constructionat the receiving rail' end of the joint, thus providing uniformity offlexibility throughout the joint 'without saoriicing any of therequisite stiffness and strength thereof. .f

The joint insulating expediente illustrated in the drawings also includean end'post 14 between the meeting ends of the rails and suitable boltinsulation, as for instance the insulating sleeves and washers 15 and.16 associated with the head and nut portions of the bolts which extendthrough the leaving rail and the upright member 5 of the. bars.

In this type of bolt insulation, metal backing washers 1-7 are usuallyinter Iosed between the heads and nuts of the bol the insulating Washers16. `P

Various modifications of the invention may be resorted to withoutdeparting from' :and

Bil

the spirit or scope thereof, and 'in that connection it will of coursebe understood that, the insulation plates may 4be, in 'separate` piecesinstead of integral, and that the improvement'may bejreadily adapted to'staggered or crdss insulation wherein the bars and the insxllation atopposite sides `of the rails have a reversed relation. This will be.

apparent to those familiar with the art Without illustration, as well asthe fact that changes in the form, proportion, and minor details ofconstruction may also be resorted to without departing from'the spiritor sacrificing any of the advantages of the. invention.y

I claim: A

1. An insulated' rail'A joint including, in combination -with the rails,a joint bar of uniform section throughout in electrical communicationwith the head of one rail and having an air-gap insulation' from thehead of the other rail.

2. An insulated rail joint including, in'

combination with the rails, a joint barof 'uniform vheight throughout inelectrical :communication .with the head of one rail: 'and having-anair-gap insulation from the head ofthe other rail. j j

3. An insulated rail joint including, in combination with the rails, ajoint bar of uniform height throughout in electrical communication withthe head of one rail. and having an air-gap insulation beneath the headof the other rail, and insulating mate' Irial between'the bar and arail.

izo

iat i 4. An linsulated rail joint including, in v combination with therails, a joint bar of uniform height throughout in electrical icemmunication with' the headof' one-'rail igiaageea and having an airgap insulation beneath the head' of the other rail,I and insulating'material between the bar and the flange of the latter rail.

-. .insulatedl rail jointI including, in combination with the'hrails, a.joint bar of uniform height 'throughout `in electrical communicationwith lthe'head of one rail and having an electrically insulating aii gapspacing from the head of the other rail,

and electrical base insulation extending along both rails; f

. 6. An insulated rail joint including, in- .coinbinatiou with therails,l a `joint bar of uniform height throughoutV in electricalcommunicationwitli the head of one rail` and having 'an electricallyinsulating' airgap spacingfrom'theheadof the 'other rail, and electricalinsulation4 for the base of bothl rails.'

'7. An insulatediail' joint including,

' combination with the rails, a'jointloar having an upright member ofuniform' height throughout, a portion of the head of said bar being inelectrical communication with the rail.

combinationwith the rails, ajoint bar have ingwfan 'upright member Iofuniform height throughout, a portion ofthe head of said bar being inelectrical communication with the head of one' rail, the balance of thehead of said bar having an electrically. insulating i air-gap-spacingfrom the head of the other i insulation between its top edge and thehead of one rail, a metal filler between the head. of the bar and the.other rail, and insulating rail, and insulating material at the `sideof the joint bar. j .l i j 9. An insulated rail joint including, in

combination, the rails, a joint bar having ani air-gap insulationbetween .its ltop edge and the' head of'oiie rail, a. metal fillerbetween the head of the bai' and the fothei rail, and insulatingmaterial at the sideof said bar. i 10. An insulated rail' jointincluding,- iiiv combination, the rails, a joint bar having an air-gapinsulation between its top edge and the iiead of onerail, a metal fillerbetween theliead of the bar andthe other rail,'an

I' `insulating material atithat side of the bar having the airfgapinsulation.

11. An' insulated rail joint combination, `the viails`,a yjoint bar ofuniform height"-throiighoiit having-an air-gap 4materia-l at the side ofsaidbar.. l 12. An insulated rail joint including, in

t combination, the rails, a joint bar .of uniform height throughouthaving an air-gap insulation between its top edge and the head 8. Aninsulated vrail joint including, in

d i the including,A in

'of one rail, a metal `ill'er between the head of the bar and 'tlieotherrail, and 'insulating material at that sideof air-gap insulation.

413. An insulated Vrail jointl including, inlr I 'I combination, therails', a joint bar of; uniform sectionlthroughout and'liaving a triin-jcated upright-member spaced from the 'head of one rail "toleaveran,interveninginsulat 'ing air-gap, a metal `iller between t'iiehea-d of said upright memberaiid tlieother rail, and insulatingmaterialbetween the joint" .bai"andarail..il

14. rAn insulated rail joint includng, in

combination', therails, a joint bar of. uniorm section throughout andhaving a truncatedupright member spaced from the head of one railtoleave'an intervening'insulat the barhaving the ,I

ing air-gapLa metal lillerbetween the `head i of said upright ymemberandthe other rail, Aand insulating .material'between the joint bar andboth rails.`

15. An'i'nsulated -rail rjoint including,

combination, the rails, ajointbar having an air-gap insulationbetweengits top edge and .I

the yhead'of one rail, an insulating member between said joint bar andsaid rail, andal metal filler. between the head of the. joint' bar andthe other rail. 1

16. An insulated rail joint including, in i combination,"the rails, 4ajoint bai" ofguniinsulation between its top edge Vandthe head of onerail,- ,an insulating member between saidjoint bar and said rail, `and ametal filler betweenthe head of the joint bar and the other rail.

A'17.- Anfinsulated railiijoint including',in

i form :height throughout` having an air-gap combination, the rails, ajoint bar' of uniy form sectionthroughout having an electrii callyinsulating air-'gap i spacing from theA head of one rail, an insulatingmember between said joint bar and said rail, and a metal fillerbetween.`-the head of the `joint andthe other rail, said'fillerbeii'igvthinner than the insulating member..

"18..An insulated rail joint including, in

" combination., therails, a 'joint bar of uniform sectionthroughout-having its head f i portion' in-y electrical communicationwith head of one rail and spaced from the web of that rail'for'adjustment'ipurposes,

j said. head portion `of the bar having an airvgap sp'acing from theVhead 'of the Iother rail, and aninsulatingmember between the l saidjoint bai"l andthe .latter rail, 'said in'- sulating member being-engagedby thefhead portion of the bar.

i9. Ani asumirn Ajoint minding, in

cally, insulating air-gap spacing fromV the combination, the rails, a.joint bar of uniy form section throughout having an electrif head bfoiie rail, an "insulating iiiembeiloetween the `said joint bar and saidrail, and

10ol A.

w 1 -V from @he head of the other rail'.

and the other rail, that portion of the metal iller next to the rail webbeing thinner than said insulating member to adjusjsment; clearance.. vY

20.`A n insulated nail joint including, in combination with .the rails,adjoint bar of uniform fishing dimensions throughout, in electricalcommunication. with `the heed lof one rail and having an air gapinsulation provide an 2l. An insulated ralfjoint including', incombination with themilsg'a joint bar having anuprght memberofunformheight In' testimony memes bnr. being 1n electrico-l communication ,wiehthe head of one rail, the balance of the head of' said bar heving aneleotricsillyinsulatng ain-gap spacing fromthe head of the other raul,`and an msulating member between the 2o joint bevond the lWelrof thelatter'ral. h whereof I hereuntgo ax my signature inthe presence o ftwowitnesses. l iurwimisv F. son BHORN. lftnBeSseszW. I

ENJ. oLgAmmn, KATHERISE MONAULY.

